Fair Trade Friday is an organization that helps to empower women and battle poverty through dignified, sustainable industry (craftsmanship). They have three subscriptions to choose from that send fairly traded items from around the world: The Original Box, Bracelet of the Month, and Earrings of the Month. I have subscribed to the Earring of the Month box for years now, and I am really excited to have this opportunity to review the Original Box!
This review is of the $32.99 a month Fair Trade Friday Original Box.
My Subscription Addiction paid for this box. (Check out our review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
About Fair Trade Friday
The Subscription Box: Fair Trade Friday Original Box
The Cost: $32.99 per month + free shipping
The Products: 2-4 fairly traded global handicrafts
Ships to: the US
Fair Trade Friday Original Box September 2018 Review
This booklet is included every month, and it has nice details about the items and the artisans who created them. This month's theme is Rooted: Let's root for each other and watch each other grow. The booklet also has a yummy looking recipe for Crash Hot Potatoes this month! Mmmmm.
This little card was also included. It provides some detail about Fair Trade Friday and their parent organization, Mercy House. I thought when I took this picture that the rosemary seeds were a bit of an extra, but it turns out the seeds are a named/valued item, and the booklet lists the value at $2.
This postcard was also included this month, and it *is* an extra. It's a nice message.
Crossbody Bag by Joyn, India - Retail Value $44
I don't know if it's because I'm still thirteen years old on the inside or what, but I get absolutely stoked out of my mind when I get a purse in a subscription box. This one is so gorgeous! It was handcrafted in India by the artisans at Joyn, which is an organization helping to turn marginalized communities into thriving ones through fair trade and sustainable industry. The booklet actually goes into great detail about how their bags are made, but in a nutshell, every part of it is carefully and beautifully handcrafted. The cotton comes from the Himalayas, the print is stamped by hand-carved wooden blocks, and the sewing is done by foot-powered sewing machines. So much work went into this beautiful bag! It's a great size for running around and doing errands on a Saturday. With one packet on the outside and two inside, it's just the right size for my phone, keys, wallet, and the inevitable scraps of paper / small notebook I end up carrying around everywhere. It's also a really great print and color scheme for fall!
Succulent Holder by Village Artisan, India - Retail Value $13
I thought this was a pot to plant the rosemary seeds in, but it says it's a succulent holder... I guess it could be used for either? Village Artisan is an organization in North India committed to helping impoverished families through fair trade employment. This pot was hand carved from mango wood and then sealed and painted gold. It's beautiful! I like the little card inside that has a picture of the artisan. It makes me sad, though, because his name is Guddu, and that reminds me of the movie "Lion," which I saw three times last year and cried each time.
The Verdict: I am loving my subscription to Fair Trade Friday Original Box! I especially love my new purse! I can see myself taking this everywhere this fall. I also like all the information they provide to show how your subscription directly impacts the lives of others. It makes the subscription seem that much more special.
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? No. In order to receive the box of the month, you must subscribe before the 24th of the previous month.
Value Breakdown: This box cost $33 shipped. It included two items, so the average cost per item is $16.50 (I'm leaving out the value of the seeds here). The total suggested retail for all three items is $59, which means the savings on this box is 44%!
Check out all of our Fair Trade Friday reviews and more fair trade boxes in the Artisan Subscription Box Directory!
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What do you think of Fair Trade Friday?
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